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How to Land a Job in The Hobby
- Story by
- How to Land a Job in The Hobby
Hi Collectors,
I get asked all the time how to network, find jobs and break into this industry. There are so many passionate collectors out there who would love to make their hobby their business, so many people already working in collectibles looking for new opportunities, and so many businesses in this industry hunting for top talent.
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So where do you begin?
Luckily Bobby Eaton, Friend of Mantel and COO at RR Auction, just launched a great resource to solve that exact problem. If you're already working in the collectibles industry or looking to get your foot in the door, check out Collect Talent. And if you find yourself a gig, let us know!
Collect Talent — Turning Passion Into Careers
How to Land a Job in The Hobby
(mantel_articles_788)
Mantel: Topps Unveils Champions League Debut Patches Following Massive UEFA Deal
At this point we should expect whenever Topps grabs a new license, a Debut Patch program will follow closely behind. This week it was announced that UEFA and Fanatics are bringing the concept to the UEFA Champions League for the '26-27 season, with debuting players wearing a special patch that will later be removed and turned into one-of-one autographed Topps cards. Given the global nature of the Champions League and the number of massive stars who will compete in the tournament, we expect these cards to crush for Topps. Smart of them to wring as much value out of the idea as possible.
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The Athletic: Karl-Anthony Towns Reveals Himself as Buyer of $900,000 Aaron Judge Card
Karl-Anthony Towns has been very visible in The Hobby over the last few years, so when it was revealed he was the buyer of Aaron Judge's 2026 Topps Chrome Back-to-Back Dual Gold Logoman Auto, it was surprising but not shocking. Towns paid $900,000, making it the fourth-highest public sale of a Judge card ever. Pretty cool to see one NY sports hero collect the other… but does this mean Judge needs to buy a few Towns cards now?
via Inc.
Inc.: Coco Gauff Wanted 5 Spider-Man Comics at the US Open
The US Open's annual Spider-Man comic giveaway became a collectible phenomenon after Marvel introduced five borough-themed variant covers, each limited to 1,000 copies. With only 5,000 rare variants distributed (math!) in blind bags during Fan Week, demand surged among fans and collectors alike—including Coco Gauff , who publicly asked for help tracking down copies before the tournament gifted her a set. Pays to know people.
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Today.com: Trading Card of Viral Seattle Raccoon 'Jimothy' Sells for $20K
If your social feeds look like mine, every 8th post is about the Seattle raccoon with some particularly short legs. The Mariners quickly capitalized on "Jimothy" fever to release a card as a stadium giveaway, with one lucky attendee pocketing the 1-1. Turns out the 13-year-old Mariners fan who pulled the chase card sold it on eBay for $21,100. We hope she buys poor Jimothy some trash to pick through with her windfall.
via Slate
Slate: Pokémon Cards Have Become Gen Z's Favorite Financial Asset
When card collecting hits outlets like Slate, you know we've made it!! The article argues that Pokémon cards have become one of Gen Z's favorite alternative assets, fueled by social media, the thrill of rare pulls, and growing skepticism toward traditional investing. Cards now sit at the intersection of collecting and speculation, with surging grading volumes, record sales, and strong resale demand reflecting a broader shift toward "casino economy" investing among younger consumers.
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Mantel: Predicting the Next Big Non-Sport Collectible Explosion
Wait until Slate and Gen Z discover Mantel's J.R. Fickle, because he knows the next collectible to pop. In this week's newsletter, Fickle makes some big predictions, including that Steve Urkel's Impel LAFFS card, Jennifer Lopez's 1992 Topps "Fly Girls" card, and, tongue firmly in cheek, a sealed copy of "Who's Nailin Paylin?" are all poised to pop. You can quibble with Fickle's specific picks (I do every week), but the thesis is sound: nostalgia, scarcity, and cultural significance are increasingly driving demand beyond traditional sports cards.
